Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy:

I have been a Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship since 2006. ​

​According to PATH International, incorporating equines into therapeutic strategies can significantly enhance treatment outcomes. Licensed and credentialed therapy professionals utilize horses across six distinct therapies: counseling, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, and speech-language pathology. This innovative approach addresses individualized goals while promoting overall health, wellness, and functional improvement. Embracing the bond between humans and horses can lead to transformative experiences in the healing process.

Definition: EFP is experiential psychotherapy that includes equine(s). It may include, but is not limited to, a number of mutually respectful equine activities such as handling, grooming, riding, driving, and vaulting. EFP is facilitated with a licensed, credentialed mental health professional working with an appropriately credentialed equine professional. EFP may be facilitated by a mental health professional who is also dually credentialed as an equine professional. (definition by EFMHA, Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association). 

Horses are herd animals, and as such like to be in a safe social engagement. While horses in captivity rarely get to select their herd, they still are herd animals, and as such prefer to be with other horses. Safe social engagement helps their nervous systems settle and regulate. Humans can benefit from nervous system regulation, a sense of presence and embodiment as well. Clients often report reduced levels of anxiety and depression and improved mood. Working with horses can help renegotiate boundary ruptures.. Processing what happens in mind and body with an experienced therapist and relating the experience to life can make a lasting change. 

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EQUUSOMA® Horse-Human Trauma Recovery:

EQUUSOMA®  was founded by Sarah Schlote (she/her), Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian Certified Counsellor and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. ​EQUUSOMA® represents a harmonious blend of knowledge in mammalian stress responses, psychophysiology, trauma, and attachment. This unique approach serves as a bridge between biology and psychology, combining intuition with scientific principles. Here, transformation unfolds organically, all within a trauma-informed framework. What is essential is the voice and choice of the horse, providing a healing and safe environment for both humans and horses.

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From Sarah's website: "Grounded in Somatic Experiencing® and the polyvagal theory, mammalian ethology, interpersonal neurobiology, interspecies neurobiology, comparative psychology, equitation science, and beyond, EQUUSOMA® offers a unique understanding of equine trauma, human trauma, how trauma manifests in various horse-human contexts. Join us as we deep dive into the world of co-regulation, somatic renegotiation, and relational repair, by supporting the conditions for safety, sustainable nervous system states, and resilience to emerge."